- Email: [email protected]
Satellite project to forecast malaria hazard
Mold/or
tropics, such as cloud cover and water vapour in the atmosphere, will also be studied in this phase. An expert meeting on the use of education and training, but also The expanded model should be remote sensing in natural resources o n a systematic training of supfinished by the end of 1988 and the development in the Arab region was port personnel required for the investigators will then go to a second m a i n t e n a n c e and c o n t i n u o u s malarial area to learn how to apply the held in November 1986. The meeting was co-sponsored by the UN Departadaptation of the various facilities model in different terrain. ment of Technical Cooperation for needed now and in the future by If effective in the war against malarDevelopment UN/DTCO and the govthe countries concerned (mainte- ia, the NASA technique could be ermnent of Tunisia, and was attended nance personnel, programmers applied to many kinds of insect-borne by experts from 13 Arab states and a and other categories of techni- diseases. Malaria has been targeted cians at the craft/operational for the initial NASA effort because it few experts from outside the region. The outcome is a regional remote level). is among the most critical global programme for the Arab region, the health problems. It is the leading Thus an Arab remote sensing network first two-year phase of which is to be cause of disability in many tropical is being established. One of its objecimplemented with United Nations regions, afflicting more than 250 miltives will be the strengthening of the assistance. Its main features are: lion people worldwide, according to regional and national education and the World Health Organization. It is • standardization of hardware, soft- training facilities. Another will be the transmitted by mosquitoes which carry ware and computer languages to support to national facilities provided assure easy access to each of the by centres of excellence, each special- the malaria parasite, a virus-like national facilities and an efficient ized in a subject area for which it organism which breeds in human blood and liver cells. Over the past 1(1 exchange of programmes, work- offers the best qualifications and most years, the worldwide malaria problem suitable environmental conditions. ing methods and data; has worsened as control measures • standardization of education and have proven ineffective. Some strains training at all levels; and of mosquito have become resistant to • focus not only on post-graduate Source: L'Action, Tunisia. pesticides, while the malaria parasite has become resistant to traditional remedies such as quinine. The remote sensing project will be a complicated undertaking. To develop the predictive model, the many factors affecting disease transmission must be effective for malaria control because integrated and quantified. The comNASA scientists have begun work on a pilot project which will use satellites many of the environmental conditions pleted model must be precise, but and high-altitude aircraft to predict associated with malaria transmission versatile enough to transfer, with can be identified from a distance. Key minor modification, to regions with where malaria outbreaks may occur factors such as rainfall patterns, stand- varied environmental conditions and over large equatorial regions. Sciening water, irrigation, drainage, mosquito types. (Malaria is carried by tists hope that the work will lead to temperature, soil, and topography can more than 85 species of mosquito, significant improvements in global have differing habits.) all be measured by satellite. Accurate which malaria control by the early 1990s. In the experimental project, satel- timing of control measures, which Epidemiologists and entomologists, as lite sensors will monitor the environ- satellites can provide, is important well as remote sensing specialists, will because the short-lived, fast-breeding participate in the project. mental conditions, such as rainfall and Recent advances in remote sensing mosquito population responds quickly surface water, which trigger the breedincrease the programme's chances of to the changing environment. ing of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. In the project's first phase, resear- success. In the past decade, highThe use of remote sensing technology chers are studying mosquito breeding resolution, multi-spectral sensors have will enable frequent, steady coverage of wide areas. The project will allow in California rice fields. A remote been developed, and data delivery has malaria control measures, including sensing model will be completed by improved with the development of water drainage and use of selective the end of 1987 and will be tested direct downlinks to users (such as against field data to see if it reliably small 'backyard' satellite dishes). pesticides, to be focused at times and predicts peak densities of mosquitoes. Satellite systems which provide conareas at highest risk. Scientists hope ultimately to be able to monitor In the second phase, the project will tinual Earth-monitoring are now in be taken to a malarial area in the operation. thousands of square miles on a weekly For data collection, the NASA probasis, and deliver data within 24 to 48 tropics, to study disease transmission as well as mosquito populations. Prob- ject may use the Landsat Earthhours. lems specific to remote sensing in the observing satellites, as well as highRemote sensing techniques may be
Arab remote sensing network
Satellite project to forecast malaria hazard
156
SPACE POLICY May 1987
Monitor
flying surveillance aircraft such as C-130s, DC-8s, or U-2s. (It is possible the US space station, scheduled for launch in the mid-1990s, may also be used, since the space station will orbit tropical regions.) These aircraft are equipped with multi-spectral sensors, enabling study of a variety of environmental features. Greenness of vegetation, for example, is analysed in visible light between 500 and 600 nanometers; air quality (haziness) is measured in the near-infrared at 900 nanometers. Radar can be effectively used to measure the accumulation of surface water. Researchers are not yet certain what degree of resolution, up to 1 kin, will be necessary to obtain
accurate data. If 1 km resolution is sufficient, greater areas can be surveyed. When the project has been completed and the technique has been successfully demonstrated, NASA will turn the project over to an international health organization or to interested national governments, to continue operations. The malaria project is part of NASA's Biospherics programme, which applies remote sensing to studying current global environmental problems.
Source: Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
EUTELSAT board of signatories meeting The E U T E L S A T board of signatories met in Paris in November 1986. The decisions taken included: •
• •
•
•
Adoption of the E U T E L S A T budget for 1987 which forecasts inter alia a total income of 70 million ECU. Adoption of a five-year financial plan. Adoption of an annual charge fixed at 3.8 million ECU for the lease of a E U T E L S A T II transp o n d e r for t e l e v i s i o n ( n o n preemptible and for a minimum period of three years) and 3.4 million ECU for five transponders for five years. It will also consider at its next meeting proposals for significant reductions in charges for satellite multiservices (video conferencing, bulk data transfer, etc). Discontinuation of the space shuttle compatibility feature originally adopted for the EUTELSAT II satellites. As the space shuttle is no longer able to launch commercial satellites, EUTELSAT will seek an alternative launcher already available or shortly to become available on the market; this will be proposed as a launch vehicle for use as an alternative to Ariane. The board came to a favourable
SPACE POLICY May 1987
•
•
conclusion concerning technical coordination with the Swedish and Norwegian space segment of the Tele-X system, and decided to submit the matter to the Assembly of Parties in February 1987 for its views on the operation of this space segment without economic harm to EUTELSAT. On the other hand, consultation with the signatory of Luxembourg u n d e r A r t i c l e XVI of the E U T E L S A T Convention (coordination with the SES-Astra system) did not progress and the matter was not discussed at this meeting of the board. However, the Swedish signatory indicated that the Swedish administration had rejected an application for permission to transmit from Sweden to the Astra satellite, considering that use of this satellite requires prior consultation under the INTELSAT Agreements and the E U T E L S A T Convention. Lastly, the Board approved the continuation and funding of the studies on the E U R O P E S A T direct broadcasting satellite project.
Source: EUTELSAT, Tour MaineMontparnasse 33, avenue du Maine, 75755 Paris Cedex 15, France.
New agreement A cooperative agreement between ESA and Eumetsat was signed on January 12, 1987. Under this agreement the European intergovernmental organization, Eumetsat, which represents the national meteorological services of the 16 European states ~ and which has agreed to continue operating European meteorological satellites, will assume responsibility of the Meteosat Operational Satellites programme. This programme had been developed by ESA and is due to operate until the end of 1995 with the launching of three new satellites over the next four years. These satellites will relay the two preoperational Meteosat satellites which were launched in 1977 and 1981 respectively. The second one, with an expected lifetime of three years, is still functioning with exceptional reliability five and a half years after its launch. Whilst the construction, launch, control in orbit and data processing of the satellites will continue to be carried out by ESA, Eumetsat will look after the funding of the programme and all external relations. The Eumetsat Convention entered into force on 19 June 1986 and its headquarters are situated in Darmstadt in FR Germany, where ESA's Operations Centre (ESOC) is also situated. ESOC's main activities consist of monitoring and controlling European satellites in orbit. Furthermore, extensive ground-based activities are performed mainly related to image preprocessing and extraction of meteorological data. These are disseminated to the users together with the images via the Meteosat satellite. The Meteosat operational programme represents a financial envelope of about 444 million Accounting Units (MAU) 2 at 1986 price level. Source: ESA, 8-10, Rue Mario Nikis, 75738 Paris Cedex 15, France. IBelgium, Denmark, FR Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey and the UK. 21 AU = US$0.96161.
157
tropics, such as cloud cover and water vapour in the atmosphere, will also be studied in this phase. An expert meeting on the use of education and training, but also The expanded model should be remote sensing in natural resources o n a systematic training of supfinished by the end of 1988 and the development in the Arab region was port personnel required for the investigators will then go to a second m a i n t e n a n c e and c o n t i n u o u s malarial area to learn how to apply the held in November 1986. The meeting was co-sponsored by the UN Departadaptation of the various facilities model in different terrain. ment of Technical Cooperation for needed now and in the future by If effective in the war against malarDevelopment UN/DTCO and the govthe countries concerned (mainte- ia, the NASA technique could be ermnent of Tunisia, and was attended nance personnel, programmers applied to many kinds of insect-borne by experts from 13 Arab states and a and other categories of techni- diseases. Malaria has been targeted cians at the craft/operational for the initial NASA effort because it few experts from outside the region. The outcome is a regional remote level). is among the most critical global programme for the Arab region, the health problems. It is the leading Thus an Arab remote sensing network first two-year phase of which is to be cause of disability in many tropical is being established. One of its objecimplemented with United Nations regions, afflicting more than 250 miltives will be the strengthening of the assistance. Its main features are: lion people worldwide, according to regional and national education and the World Health Organization. It is • standardization of hardware, soft- training facilities. Another will be the transmitted by mosquitoes which carry ware and computer languages to support to national facilities provided assure easy access to each of the by centres of excellence, each special- the malaria parasite, a virus-like national facilities and an efficient ized in a subject area for which it organism which breeds in human blood and liver cells. Over the past 1(1 exchange of programmes, work- offers the best qualifications and most years, the worldwide malaria problem suitable environmental conditions. ing methods and data; has worsened as control measures • standardization of education and have proven ineffective. Some strains training at all levels; and of mosquito have become resistant to • focus not only on post-graduate Source: L'Action, Tunisia. pesticides, while the malaria parasite has become resistant to traditional remedies such as quinine. The remote sensing project will be a complicated undertaking. To develop the predictive model, the many factors affecting disease transmission must be effective for malaria control because integrated and quantified. The comNASA scientists have begun work on a pilot project which will use satellites many of the environmental conditions pleted model must be precise, but and high-altitude aircraft to predict associated with malaria transmission versatile enough to transfer, with can be identified from a distance. Key minor modification, to regions with where malaria outbreaks may occur factors such as rainfall patterns, stand- varied environmental conditions and over large equatorial regions. Sciening water, irrigation, drainage, mosquito types. (Malaria is carried by tists hope that the work will lead to temperature, soil, and topography can more than 85 species of mosquito, significant improvements in global have differing habits.) all be measured by satellite. Accurate which malaria control by the early 1990s. In the experimental project, satel- timing of control measures, which Epidemiologists and entomologists, as lite sensors will monitor the environ- satellites can provide, is important well as remote sensing specialists, will because the short-lived, fast-breeding participate in the project. mental conditions, such as rainfall and Recent advances in remote sensing mosquito population responds quickly surface water, which trigger the breedincrease the programme's chances of to the changing environment. ing of malaria-carrying mosquitoes. In the project's first phase, resear- success. In the past decade, highThe use of remote sensing technology chers are studying mosquito breeding resolution, multi-spectral sensors have will enable frequent, steady coverage of wide areas. The project will allow in California rice fields. A remote been developed, and data delivery has malaria control measures, including sensing model will be completed by improved with the development of water drainage and use of selective the end of 1987 and will be tested direct downlinks to users (such as against field data to see if it reliably small 'backyard' satellite dishes). pesticides, to be focused at times and predicts peak densities of mosquitoes. Satellite systems which provide conareas at highest risk. Scientists hope ultimately to be able to monitor In the second phase, the project will tinual Earth-monitoring are now in be taken to a malarial area in the operation. thousands of square miles on a weekly For data collection, the NASA probasis, and deliver data within 24 to 48 tropics, to study disease transmission as well as mosquito populations. Prob- ject may use the Landsat Earthhours. lems specific to remote sensing in the observing satellites, as well as highRemote sensing techniques may be
Arab remote sensing network
Satellite project to forecast malaria hazard
156
SPACE POLICY May 1987
Monitor
flying surveillance aircraft such as C-130s, DC-8s, or U-2s. (It is possible the US space station, scheduled for launch in the mid-1990s, may also be used, since the space station will orbit tropical regions.) These aircraft are equipped with multi-spectral sensors, enabling study of a variety of environmental features. Greenness of vegetation, for example, is analysed in visible light between 500 and 600 nanometers; air quality (haziness) is measured in the near-infrared at 900 nanometers. Radar can be effectively used to measure the accumulation of surface water. Researchers are not yet certain what degree of resolution, up to 1 kin, will be necessary to obtain
accurate data. If 1 km resolution is sufficient, greater areas can be surveyed. When the project has been completed and the technique has been successfully demonstrated, NASA will turn the project over to an international health organization or to interested national governments, to continue operations. The malaria project is part of NASA's Biospherics programme, which applies remote sensing to studying current global environmental problems.
Source: Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA.
EUTELSAT board of signatories meeting The E U T E L S A T board of signatories met in Paris in November 1986. The decisions taken included: •
• •
•
•
Adoption of the E U T E L S A T budget for 1987 which forecasts inter alia a total income of 70 million ECU. Adoption of a five-year financial plan. Adoption of an annual charge fixed at 3.8 million ECU for the lease of a E U T E L S A T II transp o n d e r for t e l e v i s i o n ( n o n preemptible and for a minimum period of three years) and 3.4 million ECU for five transponders for five years. It will also consider at its next meeting proposals for significant reductions in charges for satellite multiservices (video conferencing, bulk data transfer, etc). Discontinuation of the space shuttle compatibility feature originally adopted for the EUTELSAT II satellites. As the space shuttle is no longer able to launch commercial satellites, EUTELSAT will seek an alternative launcher already available or shortly to become available on the market; this will be proposed as a launch vehicle for use as an alternative to Ariane. The board came to a favourable
SPACE POLICY May 1987
•
•
conclusion concerning technical coordination with the Swedish and Norwegian space segment of the Tele-X system, and decided to submit the matter to the Assembly of Parties in February 1987 for its views on the operation of this space segment without economic harm to EUTELSAT. On the other hand, consultation with the signatory of Luxembourg u n d e r A r t i c l e XVI of the E U T E L S A T Convention (coordination with the SES-Astra system) did not progress and the matter was not discussed at this meeting of the board. However, the Swedish signatory indicated that the Swedish administration had rejected an application for permission to transmit from Sweden to the Astra satellite, considering that use of this satellite requires prior consultation under the INTELSAT Agreements and the E U T E L S A T Convention. Lastly, the Board approved the continuation and funding of the studies on the E U R O P E S A T direct broadcasting satellite project.
Source: EUTELSAT, Tour MaineMontparnasse 33, avenue du Maine, 75755 Paris Cedex 15, France.
New agreement A cooperative agreement between ESA and Eumetsat was signed on January 12, 1987. Under this agreement the European intergovernmental organization, Eumetsat, which represents the national meteorological services of the 16 European states ~ and which has agreed to continue operating European meteorological satellites, will assume responsibility of the Meteosat Operational Satellites programme. This programme had been developed by ESA and is due to operate until the end of 1995 with the launching of three new satellites over the next four years. These satellites will relay the two preoperational Meteosat satellites which were launched in 1977 and 1981 respectively. The second one, with an expected lifetime of three years, is still functioning with exceptional reliability five and a half years after its launch. Whilst the construction, launch, control in orbit and data processing of the satellites will continue to be carried out by ESA, Eumetsat will look after the funding of the programme and all external relations. The Eumetsat Convention entered into force on 19 June 1986 and its headquarters are situated in Darmstadt in FR Germany, where ESA's Operations Centre (ESOC) is also situated. ESOC's main activities consist of monitoring and controlling European satellites in orbit. Furthermore, extensive ground-based activities are performed mainly related to image preprocessing and extraction of meteorological data. These are disseminated to the users together with the images via the Meteosat satellite. The Meteosat operational programme represents a financial envelope of about 444 million Accounting Units (MAU) 2 at 1986 price level. Source: ESA, 8-10, Rue Mario Nikis, 75738 Paris Cedex 15, France. IBelgium, Denmark, FR Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Turkey and the UK. 21 AU = US$0.96161.
157